Latin for "Thus always to tyrants."
Adopted 1776.
Virginia, the "Old Dominion," is a state of profound historical importance and geographic diversity. Stretching from the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is a major economic engine driven by federal government agencies, military installations, and a rapidly expanding technology corridor.
Virginia officially joined the Union on June 25, 1788, as the 10th state. Known as the "Mother of Presidents," it was the site of the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown in 1607. Its role as the primary theater of the Civil War and the home of many founding fathers makes it a cornerstone of American identity.
Virginia Beach
Population: ~460,000A major coastal resort city known for its miles of beaches, vibrant boardwalk, and significant military presence, particularly Naval Air Station Oceana.
Norfolk
Population: ~240,000The historic maritime heart of the state, home to Naval Station Norfolk—the world's largest naval base—and a thriving downtown waterfront.
Chesapeake
Population: ~250,000A diverse and rapidly growing city featuring a blend of urban, suburban, and pristine protected wetlands like the Great Dismal Swamp.
Richmond
Population: ~230,000The state capital, celebrated for its intersection of historic monuments, world-class museums, and a cutting-edge culinary and arts scene.
Arlington
Population: ~240,000A dense urban county situated directly across the Potomac from Washington, D.C., housing the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.
Region: South
- Virginia is the birthplace of more U.S. Presidents than any other state, including four of the first five presidents.
- The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is one of the world's few bridge-tunnel complexes, connecting the state's mainland to its Eastern Shore.
- The Internet's global infrastructure is heavily concentrated in Northern Virginia, which processes an estimated 70% of the world's daily internet traffic.